Myanmar, Nay Pyi Taw

The day trip to Myanmar's Capital city Nay Pyi Taw, which I call "City" from now on. City building started as recently as 2002 and partially still continues. The City basically has only Ministries, Presidents office, governmental buildings and the infrastructure to support them, build in to middle of nowhere. There are many high class hotels, some shopping centers and very little entertainment, what I saw. There is a golf course.

Sights that we visited were Jade Garden (half cut low raw Jade rocks next to small storage area for monthly/yearly raw Jade auction. Also there was Water park with music and water show and there is Zoo, which we didn't visit.

The road trip takes five hours one way, so I spent 10 over hours in car without anything  to see on the way. Well, we saw few huts and deserted lands and concrete highway with few cars. Distance between Yangon and The City is about 400 kilometers.

Flying is definitely the best way to travel there, even the highway was quiet and in reasonable good condition. Air tickets are from 100-200 dollars one way. Hired car from 250-300 return trip but can fit 4 people, if needed. There are also buses from Yangon, going to Nay Pyi Taw called "City" from now on.

115 mile resting place on thew way to Nay Pyi Taw

Dozen's of restaurants to serve the weary travellers

Highway is long

Arriving to Nay Pyi Taw

Roads in the City has room for water buffalos too

One example of many hotels around the city

 Next some pictures of the Chinese restaurant

Chinese hotel, where we had lunch

Preparing for meeting and waiting for food

Ducks spinning in reel

Our driver and the waiter 

We visited also the Jade garden, exhibiting the raw stones from the Jade jewelry and items are made of.

Sitting in raw Jade chair and table

Different Jade rocks cut in middle to see the quality and color

Mined raw Jade rocks for auction

Jade rock garden

Jade garden was well protected

Next we visited very nice resort style hotel Thingaha, which I recommend if you need room in City. Room rates were from 80 dollars standard up to 280 best sweet. Very nice place but not complete yet. They were building the swimming pools and Spa center.

Sweet twin bed

Own kitchen

Own jacuzzi in room

After hotel visit we went to mountain water park. After paying in, we learned inside that the music water show is only at evening so the place was pretty empty.

Water park has many water related statues and pools

The pavillion with area guide maps and instructions were also closed 

 After lunch and sightseeing I visited ministry and had a look around governmental areas.

Parliament buildings rea was large but closed for tourists. 

Parliament

City roads were 4-10 lanes to each direction and mostly empty

 We visited a local market to buy some presents before leaving the Capital. I also found a hardware storre selling same brands as our shops in Finland. I asked the DeWalt angle grinder price and it was Kyats17000.- = 17 dollars. We are selling the similar about EUR 100.- in Finland. Amazing how the  market prices differs... I just wonder if Dewalt can manufacture the unit anywhere near this price.

DeWalt, B&D and some chinese brands all piled together

Hardware store had lot of items that we never use in Finland

I didn't figure the idea, how the layout for products was designed

Outside market building was usual hut restaurants

Market building outside

Return trip was most part in dark (as actually half of coming in too). Sun sets at 18.30 and rises around 06.70 in the morning. It is pretty fast so it is first dark, then maybe 30 mins dusk and then light.

Resting area at night

Many busses stops here for the rest on the way to north

Tea advertisement

The route is only highway going to upcountry, Mandalay and other cities there. Buses do overnight trips, leaving at evening and arriving at morning to their destinations. 

There are also train and flight transports going to upcountry main cities. I haven't yet visited northern part of the country but I probably leave some more sightseeing for next visits.

Cheers,

Pasi